New fake LSA pages with hundreds and thousands of unrelated reviews are killing legit LSA businesses in our area

[Cuoreimpavido]

Hi. Around 2 months ago, 3-4 fake LSA pages popped in our area. They have anywhere between 300-4000 reviews. There are no businesses with these names in our state. No google maps for them. And the reviews are connected to parks and unrelated businesses.

I tried to report them a few weeks ago with this form: Report Misconduct or Abuse - Local Services Help
And after a few days I received an email that my concerns are being checked by their team but they can’t share information about it. But unfortunately nothing happened with that. The LSA pages are still there and still ranking like a beast all over the state. Basically pushing down every single legit business in every town and city in the state (I called my competitors owners, all confirmed to be hit by them).

LSA phone support can’t help. They directed me to that same contact form.

Any ideas what to do?

 

[Cuoreimpavido]

In my area, around 2 months ago.
But I've seen offers for fake LSA listing for $4500 before that, maybe around 4-6 months ago.

 

[system32s]

They look super legit to potential customers, I'm not sure that these customers even realize they clicked on a fake LSA listing even after the job is done. They just get horrible service and prices and think all local businesses are horrible without knowing what just happened.

100% Well said. Same exact situation over here. I'm happy that LSA was never my main lead source.

 

[GoLocal]

People selling GMBs on reddit reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/197embs/google_my_business_verification/

 

[Brian - TGL]

People selling GMBs on reddit reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/197embs/google_my_business_verification/

Reddit already pulled that post.

 

[Admonster]

Does it actually affect sales or traffic?

Hi. Around 2 months ago, 3-4 fake LSA pages popped in our area. They have anywhere between 300-4000 reviews. There are no businesses with these names in our state. No google maps for them. And the reviews are connected to parks and unrelated businesses.

I tried to report them a few weeks ago with this form: Report Misconduct or Abuse - Local Services Help
And after a few days I received an email that my concerns are being checked by their team but they can’t share information about it. But unfortunately nothing happened with that. The LSA pages are still there and still ranking like a beast all over the state. Basically pushing down every single legit business in every town and city in the state (I called my competitors owners, all confirmed to be hit by them).

LSA phone support can’t help. They directed me to that same contact form.

Any ideas what to do?

I’m having the exact same problem in London, UK. LSA worked great until around 2 months ago. It’s now been saturated with fake spam/scam companies. I’ve even called a few up posing as a customer. They are essentially agencies selling the leads onto unverified third parties. The third parties appear to use all kinds of tactics to rip off the end user. It’s killing the LSA platform for genuine local business. I’ve spoken to google and they don’t care

 

[seowned]

any updates on this? we are now experiencing the same thing in the moving industry in the USA. exact same concept. how are they getting so many Google guaranteed GMB pages? this has drastically increased the cost per lead and has buried our legit business with 100+ legit 5 star reviews. i have reported the listings to Google with screenshots, but from previous posts i have read here, that is not going to do much.

 

[BenF]

Exact same thing happening in the Chicago area for several industries. Scammers using fake negative reviews to push down the legitimate companies while using fake positive reviews to take over the marketplace.

 

[seowned]

Exact same thing happening in the Chicago area for several industries. Scammers using fake negative reviews to push down the legitimate companies while using fake positive reviews to take over the marketplace.

what industries?

 

[BenF]

what industries?

Garage doors is our industry. I assume its happening in locksmith, duct cleaning and several other industries as well.

An example of a few companies receiving fake 1-star reviews in our area including our listing.

Robert's Garage Door Professionals

Robert's Garage Door Professionals

Four Seasons Garage Doors

Four Seasons Garage Doors

BDK Door Company

BDK Door Company

Precision Garage Door Chicago

Precision Garage Door Chicago

 

[seowned]

its the moving industry getting hit hard in the south east, but i haven't seen the negative review attacks (yet). they are just totally oversaturating the local listings and pump each one with 5 stars daily. each name they use for the listing is just keywords related to moving. i've been trying to figure out their method on how they are getting them verified for months, but no luck.

 

[BenF]

its the moving industry getting hit hard in the south east, but i haven't seen the negative review attacks (yet). they are just totally oversaturating the local listings and pump each one with 5 stars daily. each name they use for the listing is just keywords related to moving. i've been trying to figure out their method on how they are getting them verified for months, but no luck.

It's the same here with the added negative reviews. I have seen companies claim nature preserve listings with 1,000's or reviews and hijack the listing for their business changing all the information on the listing to their own. LSA is garbage at the moment.

 

[seowned]

It's the same here with the added negative reviews. I have seen companies claim nature preserve listings with 1,000's or reviews and hijack the listing for their business changing all the information on the listing to their own. LSA is garbage at the moment.

hijack a GMB listing with established reviews??